The USS Fitzgerald was involved in a collision with a merchant vessel while operating off the coast of Japan and there have been injuries, according to a statement Friday from the U.S. military.
The Japanese Coast Guard has arrived on the scene, about 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka, Japan.
Live footage shot from a helicopter Saturday morning by Japanese broadcaster NHK showed heavy damage to the mid-right side of the Navy ship, which appeared to be stationary in the water. People were standing on various parts of the deck.
#BREAKING: #USNavy #USSFitzgerald involved in collision. More to follow – https://t.co/H3ivRgIh65 (File photo) pic.twitter.com/V1XEUxLt84
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) June 16, 2017
The collision occured at approximately 2:30 a.m. local time on June 17.
Three compartments aboard the guided-missile destroyer are flooded, according to a Pentagon official.
“There is no danger of the ship sinking,” one official told Fox News.
There are plans to tow the US warship back to Yokosuka, Japan
home to a US Navy base.
The incident will be investigated.
Fitzgerald, a guided-missile destroyer, carries Tomahawk cruise missiles and missiles capable of shooting down ballistic missiles, part of the regions ballistic missile defense program.
